<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THESE SCHEDULES CONTAIN SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 10-Q'S
AND 10-K'S OF LEE ENTERPRISES INCORPORATED AND ARE QUALIFIED IN THIER ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED> 
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                                            

<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS                   YEAR                   YEAR
YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1995             SEP-30-1996
             SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1996             SEP-30-1995             SEP-30-1996
             SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          30,107                  30,590                  10,883                  19,267
                  14,163
<SECURITIES>                                     9,877                  11,105                   8,946                  10,668
                  12,506
<RECEIVABLES>                                   69,597                  58,752                  62,684                  52,773
                  62,997
<ALLOWANCES>                                     4,300                   4,398                   4,100                   4,000
                   4,600
<INVENTORY>                                     16,848                   1,441                  18,355                   3,668
                   3,716
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               127,592                 159,457                 104,509                 146,708
                  93,967
<PP&E>                                         257,481                 246,110                 253,463                 241,887
                 272,441
<DEPRECIATION>                                 148,720                 141,084                 145,267                 137,182
                 152,415
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 579,426                 537,913                 559,929                 527,416
                 650,963
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          126,253                 103,387                 116,527                  97,777
                 248,908
<BONDS>                                         75,109                  52,103                  75,511                  52,290
                  26,174
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<COMMON>                                        94,796                  93,381                  94,732                  94,044
                  91,017
<OTHER-SE>                                     225,910                 235,975                 216,310                 230,910
                 228,373
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   579,426                 537,913                 559,929                 527,416
                 650,963
<SALES>                                        108,860                 117,756                 375,463                 420,361
                 439,110
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               110,781                 119,668                 383,740                 427,369
                 446,686
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                84,718                  87,256                 292,335                 332,628
                 342,535
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                   1,525                   2,560
                   2,934
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,555                   1,742                  11,902                   9,648
                   8,321
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 24,035                  31,214                  83,207                  87,708
                 101,222
<INCOME-TAX>                                     9,343                  12,106                  30,975                  34,032
                  38,477
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             14,692                  19,108                  52,232                  53,670
                  62,745
<DISCONTINUED>                                   1,248                       0                   6,227                 (8,223)
                   1,485
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    15,940                  19,108                  58,459                  45,447
                  64,230
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .34                     .41                    1.27                     .97
                    1.38
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .33                     .40                    1.25                     .95
                    1.36